top | item 40805511

(no title)

bbreier | 1 year ago

And how long has it been since the last US backed coup in Bolivia?

discuss

order

tptacek|1 year ago

I have no idea. I made a specific argument and was explicit about not immunizing the US for its absolutely wretched involvement with South and Central American politics.

jeremyjh|1 year ago

[deleted]

teleforce|1 year ago

Silence reigns on the US-backed coup against Evo Morales in Bolivia (2020):

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/18/silenc...

refulgentis|1 year ago

There's a very common motte and bailey on this topic, motte = US supported coups materially, bailey = at some point the last decade, US diplomat went on the record with anodyne statement of support for winner of internal struggle.

It's insidious because it equates supporting a winner with interfering.

Morales is a poor example given the, uh, extrajudicial circumstances.

tptacek|1 year ago

I'm repeating myself here, but this 2019 thing is a "coup" in which:

* The ousted President had just claimed a victory in an unprecedented and unconstitutional 4th term election, after a judicial decision overruled both the constitution and the results of a failed referendum to amend the constitution to allow Morales to remain in power.

* The claimed victory in that election was widely deemed fraudulent, including by OAS (if you care what OAS thinks).

* Morales fled the country along with much of the constitutional line of succession, leaving the 2nd Vice President of the Senate to assume the presidency in the standard line of succession.

* That new president, unapologetic right-winger Jeanine Anez, promised prompt new elections and then delivered them less than a year later --- despite COVID.

* Those elections restored MAS, the Morales party, to power, and the transfer of power occurred peacefully.

* The new MAS government immediately had Jeanine Anez arrested for the "coup" in 2019, and has imprisoned her ever since, in an action that has been pretty much universally condemned by the industrialized world.

Arce has abused his power, Anez has abused her power, Morales certainly abused his power, none of this is appears new, there are people on HN that are far more authoritative about Bolivian politics than I am, the US with respect to South America sucks ass, but I doubt very much that there is any simple story to tell about what's happening here.

throw-the-towel|1 year ago

On the other side Áñez was defeated in the election the following year, and Socialist government resumed without much trouble.